An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
